True Liberation Theology

Psalm 22:19-28 / Romans 8:18-25

Juneteenth - June 19, 1865 (2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation)

General Gordon Granger to read General Order #3:

"The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer."

God is a liberator

Romans 8:20-21 “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”

v21 - that creation would be set free

Adam & Eve

God’s Flood

The Exodus

Peter & Paul from prison

The thief on the cross

Liberation is guaranteed

Romans 6:5 “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”

1Cor 15:17-19 “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”

John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

The life, ministry, death, resurrection, and continuing intercession of Christ is sufficient

God is the sovereign of life and death

The proof is in the resurrection of Jesus

Hebrews 2:8 “putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.”

The proclamation of freedom has gone out

We still see the rebellious fruits of fallen creation and demonic forces

People of Faith know with assurity that our rescue is as certain as the coming justice of God

It is ours to proclaim liberty

Luke 4:18 ““The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,”

This was the purpose and message of Christ

Mark 16:15 “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”

That they may be made free

It is ours to be free

Free from the bondage of sin

Romans 6:14 “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”

Free from the bondage of history

Previous sins:

Ezekiel 18:20 “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.”

Traditional or cultural baggage

1 Corinthians 5:7-8 “Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

Free to be, do, and act righteously

XII. Of the Harmony of the Law and the Gospel We believe that the law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of his moral government; that it is holy, just and good; and that the inability which the scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their love of sin; to deliver them from which, and to restore them through a Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the holy law, is one great end of the gospel, and of the means of grace connected with the establishment of the visible church.

John 8:11 “She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.””

Church Family, the ending of chatel slavery in America was a long overdue fulfilling of the same ideals that fueled the founding of our nation. The seeds of such liberation were fruits of a Christian worldview. Our God is a liberator. It falls to us now to live free, and to seek the liberation of all, most especially of their souls.